The game's royalty, in the frail form of Sir Bobby Robson, who is fighting cancer for the fifth time, led the welcome.

He handed over the FA Cup, triggered a shower of silver, and waited in the Royal Box for Harry Redknapp to amble by.

The first winning English manager for 13 years took the trophy, shoved it towards the heavens and savoured the noise with that familiar lop-sided grin.

At last, the new Wembley felt like a venue of legends, rather than the setting for a village fete.

So much for the careless whispers of recent finals. This was the real thing, decorated by a blaze of blue, black and burnished gold.

The Cup might be as unfashionable as loon pants and New Romantic razor cuts, but yesterday it meant something. It was a throwback to more innocent days, a celebration of the way we were.

It didn't seem to matter that the money men will soon have their Gucci loafers back on the game's windpipe.

It wasn't a sin to excuse the patchy quality of much of the play, especially in the second half.

For one day only, we didn't care about Real Madrid's Dirty Tricks Department, or the Thought Police at Stamford Bridge. We could ignore the self-obsessed cast of characters who have turned the soap opera of the Big Four into a global industry.

We could concentrate instead on the honourable resistance of a Cardiff team, assembled at the cost of John Terry's monthly wage. We could remind ourselves of the enduring virtues of the game's odd couple, Redknapp and his assistant Tony Adams.

In a celebrity-obsessed football world, without real values, Adams is a beacon of hope and humanity. Humiliation has bred humility, even serenity.

Before he joined the celebrations, he made a point of embracing each Cardiff player. He knows all about regret, redemption and reinvention, the themes of final day. Alcoholism has left him with a thirst for knowledge, a passion for selfimprovement, and an awareness of the struggle of others.

Redknapp may have a salesman's eye for a bargain, but he deserves more than to be dismissed as Del Boy's long-lost cousin. He provides the raw material. Adams demands defensive discipline, and organises the team's shape.

Why, we are entitled to ask, do board members, from the FA downwards, come over like the office temp pool when foreigners come calling?

These are the big occasions, which define careers and confirm reputations. Home-grown talent can flourish.

It was easy to overlook the gesture of David James, but simple to understand what motivated him to sprint towards the Cardiff players, as they began to filter towards the dressing room.

He picked out Peter Enckleman, hugged him, and offered quiet words of consolation. It was the Keepers' Union in session.

The England veteran knew, better than anyone, that goalkeepers' mistakes are magnified.

The inquest will be uncomfortable, sustained.

The questioning will also include the oversight of others, conveniently removed from the heat of battle. Just in case we forget, Steve Coppell played Reading's reserves in the Cup to guard against relegation. The entire Birmingham team found a third round tie at Huddersfield beneath them.

The Southampton board abandoned Dave Jones when he was falsely accused of child abuse charges.

Now they are all where they belong, in the backwater of the Championship. Such a shame.

The football world keeps turning. As Sol Campbell reaches the twilight of his career, Aaron Ramsey is heading towards the sunlight that signals stardom. The Big Four will claim him, soon enough.

Next up is the Champions League final. Stand by for the excess and the egos.

Remember the wise words of Joni Mitchell, poster-girl from the sensitive seventies: "Don't it always seem to go," she sang, "that you don't know what you've got till it's gone."

Yesterday reminded us what we have to lose - the passion which seized our imagination, all those years ago.

KEY MOMENTS

12 min

David James comes out quickly to block Paul Parry"s low shot after Joe Ledley springs him through.

13 min

Peter Whittingham sees his shot from the edge of the box deflected wide off Parry"s boot.

21 min

Kanu wriggles free of Glen Loovens in the area and rounds Peter Enckelman but can only hit the post from an acute angle.

26 min

Goal. Enckelman spills John Utaka"s fizzing cross from the right and Kanu beats Roger Johnson to the ball and sidefoots home from point-blank range.

39 min

Parry races down the left and fires an inviting ball across the face of goal but Kevin McNaughton can only slash wide.

45 min

Loovens has a goal harshly ruled out for handball after James makes a hash of a corner.

53 min

Kanu comes within inches of doubling the lead, after good work from Niko Kranjcar and Lassana Diarra, but Loovens deflects his shot wide.

56 min

Sulley Muntari thunders a shot just over from 25 yards as Pompey try to put the result beyond doubt.

72 min

Substitute David Nugent forces a smart save out of Enckelman at his near post with virtually his first touch after coming on.

79 min

Loovens gets ahead of his marker to meet Aaron Ramsey"s corner but can"t get his header on target.

89 min

Ramsey finds space in the box but is soon crowded out by the massed ranks of Pompey"s defence.

90 min

Glen Johnson dives at the feet of Roger Johnson to block his shot right at the death as Cardiff search desperately for an equaliser.